tg.stone of tears-第83部分

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ng　steadily　away　from　her　true　destination。　Those　back　at　camp　would　have　confidence　that　these　soldiers　would　have　her　sooner　or　later；　and　with　the　prospect　of　plunder　only　days　away；　they　would　turn　their　attention　to　it　instead。
　
　The　snow…muffled　thundering　of　hooves　brought　her　mind　back　to　what　she　was　doing。　The　men　had　reached　the　flat；　and　were　charging　at　full　speed　again。　Steadily；　she　worked　her　way　back　into　the　trees；　shaking　branches；　covering　her　trail；　backing　toward　the　way　she　had　e　on　her　way　to　the　army　of　the　Imperial　Order。　The　sounds　of　chase　were　almost　upon　her。
　
　Kahlan　leaned　almost　all　the　way　over；　stroking　an　arm　along　her　horse’s　neck。　She　whispered　toward　his　ears；　and　they　swiveled　back　to　the　sound　of　her　voice。
　
　‘Quiet　now；　Nick。　Please　don’t　move　or　make　a　sound。’　She　stroked　his　sweaty　neck　again。　‘Good　boy。　Quiet　now。’
　
　It　sounded；　to　her；　as　if　anyone　would　be　able　to　plainly　hear　her　heart　beating　in　her　chest。
　
　The　pursuers　had　reached　her。　As　they　charged　along　her　trail；　right　in　front　of　her；　they　broke　through　the　screen　of　trees　to　her　left；　not　ten　yards　away；　at　full　speed。　Kahlan　held　her　breath。
　
　She　heard　the　clop　of　hooves　as　they　hit　the　sloping　ice　hiding　in　the　moon　shadows　beyond　those　trees；　beyond　her　false　trail。　She　had　led　her　tracks　between　those　trees；　to　the　edge　of　a　steep；　rocky　stream；　where　its　water　would　tumble；　were　it　not　frozen；　over　a　cliff。
　
　It　was　a　small　stream；　but　as　it　froze；　more　water　had　bubbled　and　frothed　over　that　which　was　already　frozen；　growing　the　area　into　an　ice　palace。　Snow　had　been　washed　away　as　it　fell；　leaving　the　rounded；　downward…sloping　humps　of　ice　bare　and　slick。
　
　As　the　men　broke　through　the　trees；　they　had　not　twenty　feet　to　halt　their　headlong　rush　before　the　cliff’s　edge；　before　the　rock　and　ice　halted；　and　only　thin　air　lay　beyond。　And　they　had　to　do　it　on　cascading　mounds　of　ice。　Were　it　flat　ice；　like　a　lake；　the　horses　could　have　dug　their　iron　shoes　in；　and　tried　to　skid　to　a　halt。　But　this　was　not　flat；　it　was　water　slicked　tumble…down　ice；　and　as　they　slipped　and　slid　and　tripped　and　fell　at　a　charge；　they　had　no　chance。
　
　Kahlan　could　hear　the　pop　of　horses’　legs　breaking；　as　thousands　of　pounds　of　muscle　moving　at　full　speed　could　not　be　stopped　by　hooves　catching　in　crevices。　The　bareback　riders　were　helpless　passengers。
　
　The　men　shouted　encouragement　to　their　mounts；　and　the　ones　behind　didn’t　recognize　quickly　enough　the　change　in　shrieking　from　anger　to　fright。　Those　behind　crashed　into　those　ahead；　tumbling　over　and　past　each　other。　Bareback；　with　only　halters　and　no　aggressive　battle　bits；　the　riders　didn’t　have　the　control　they　were　accustomed　to；　and　were　carried　helplessly　forward。
　
　Some　leapt　from　their　mounts　as　they　came　through　the　trees；　and　could　see　what　lay　ahead；　but　their　momentum　was　too　great；　the　distance　too　short；　their　fate　beyond　retrieval。　The　horses　behind；　their　leg　bones　snapping；　crashed　down　atop　the　ones　already　fallen；　who　were　desperately　grasping　for　a　hold。　There　was　none。　It　became　a　waterfall　of　living　flesh；　cascading　over　the　edge。
　
　Kahlan　sat　still；　wearing　her　Confessor’s　face；　as　she　listened　to　the　screams　of　men　and　horses　mingled　together　into　one　long　wail　as　they　disappeared　over　the　mountainside。　In　the　span　of　mere　seconds；　it　was　finished；　more　than　fifty　men　and　their　mounts　had　plunged　to　their　deaths。
　
　When　the　night　had　been　silent　for　a　time；　she　dismounted　and　circled　around；　to　keep　her　false　trail　free　of　any　off…leading　tracks；　to　the　edge　of　the　ice　flow。　In　the　dim　light　she　could　see　the　dark　stains　of　blood　over　the　ice　mounds。　Blood　from　broken　legs；　blood　from　cracked　skulls。　There　were　none　of　the　enemy　left　on　the　cliff。
　
　As　she　turned　to　leave；　she　heard　low　grunts　of　desperation。　Kahlan　pulled　her　knife　and　carefully　inched　her　way　to　the　source　of　the　sounds；　toward　the　edge。　Grasping　a　stout　limb；　she　leaned　out　over　the　slanting　ice　flow。　Forest　debris　was　frozen　in　the　ice；　sticks　and　leaves　had　made　a　small　dam　at　the　edge；　to　be　covered　over　as　the　ice　grew。　It　left　a　few　branches　sticking　out　of　the　wall　of　ice。
　
　Around　one　of　these　branches　were　clutched　fingers。　A　man　clung　by　his　fingertips　to　the　branch；　his　legs　dangling　over　a　drop　of　close　to　a　thousand　feet。　He　was　grunting　with　effort　as　he　tried　to　catch　his　feet　up　on　the　ice；　but　it　was　too　slippery　to　give　him　any　toehold。
　
　Kahlan　stood　at　the　edge；　holding　the　branch　for　support；　as　she　watched　him　shivering。　Dribbles　of　water　bubbled　over　the　ice；　over　his　face；　matting　his　hair　and　soaking　his　Keltish　uniform。　His　teeth　chattered。
　
　He　looked　up　to　see　her　standing　over　him　in　the　moonlight。　‘Help　me！　Please　help　me！’　He　couldn’t　have　been　past　her　age。
　
　She　regarded　him　without　emotion。　He　had　big　eyes；　the　kind　of　eyes　young　women　would　surely　have　swooned　over。　But　the　young　women　in　Ebinissia　would　not　have　swooned　when　they　saw　those　eyes。
　
　‘In　the　name　of　the　good　spirits；　help　me！’
　
　Kahlan　squatted　down；　closer　to　him。　‘What　is　your　name？’
　
　‘Huon！　My　name’s　Huon！　Now　please　help　me！’
　
　Kahlan　lay　down　on　the　ice；　hooking　a　foot　around　a　tangled　root；　taking　a　good　grip　on　the　stout　spruce　limb　with　one　hand。　She　extended　her　other　hand　partway　out；　but　not　far　enough　for　Huon　to　reach。
　
　‘I　will　help　you；　Huon；　on　a　condition。　I　have　sworn　no　mercy；　and　none　shall　be　granted。　If　you　take　my　hand；　I　will　release　my　power　into　you。　You　will　be　mine；　now　and　forever。　If　you　are　to　live；　it　will　be　as　one　touched　by　a　Confessor。　If　you　would　think　to　pull　me　over　the　edge　with　you　before　I　can　release　my　magic；　let　me　assure　you　I　would　not　make　the　offer　were　there　that　chance。　I　have　touched　more　men　than　I　can　count。　You　will　have　no　time。　You　will　be　mine。’
　
　He　blinked　icy　water　dripping　down　on　him　from　his　eyes；　shook　it　from　his　face；　and　stared　up　at　her。
　
　Kahlan　extended　her　hand　toward　him。　‘From　now　on；　Huon；　either　way；　your　old　life　is　ended。　If　you　live　it　will　not　be　as　who　you　are　now。　That　man　will　be　gone　forever。　You　will　be　mine。’
　
　‘Please；’　he　whispered；　‘just　help　me　up。　I　won’t　hurt　you。　I　swear　to　let　you　be　on　your　way。　It　would　take　me　hours　to　make　it　back　to　camp　on　foot；　and　you’ll　be　long　gone　by　then　anyway。　Please；　just　help　me　up。’
　
　‘How　many　people　in　Ebinissia　did　you　hear　beg　for　their　lives？　To　how　many　did　you　grant　mercy？’　Her　words　came　as　cold　as　the　ice　she　lay　on。　‘I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　have　proclaimed　war　without　quarter　on　the　Imperial　Order。　The　oath　stands　as　long　as　one　of　you　lives。　Choose；　Huon。　Death；　or　to　be　touched　by　my　power。　Either　way；　who　you　are　dies。’
　
　‘The　people　of　Ebinissia　got　what　they　deserved。　I’d　rather　take　the　hand　of　the　Keeper　himself　than　be　touched　by　your　filthy　magic。　The　good　spirits　would　never　accept　me　to　them　if　I　were　touched　by　your　dark　and　profane　magic。’　His　lip　curled　in　a　sneer。　To　the　Keeper　with　you；　Confessor！’
　
　Huon　threw　his　arms　open　and　silently　dropped　away　into　the　darkness。
　
　
　As　she　rode　back　to　the　Galean　recruits；　she　thought　about　the　things　Riggs；　Karsh；　and　Slagle　had　told　her。　She　also　thought　about　the　creatures　of　magic　living　in　the　Midlands。
　
　She　thought　about　the　beautiful　land　of　the　night　wisp；　with　open　fields　deep　in　ancient；　remote　forests；　where　the　wisps　gathered　at　twilight　to　dance　together　in　the　air　above　the　grasses　and　wildflowers；　like　joyous　fireflies。　She　had　spent　many　a　night　lying　on　her　back　in　the　grass　as　they　hovered　above　her　and　spoke　with　her　of　things　mon　to　all　life：　of　dreams　and　hopes；　of　loves。
　
　She　thought　about　the　creatures　living　in　Long　Lake；　translucent　things　hard　to　see；　seeming　almost　made　of　liquid　glass；　or　of　the　water　that　was　their　home；　with　whom　she　had　never　spoken；　but　whom　she　had　watched　emerge　at　night　to　bask　in　the　moonlight　on　rock　and　shore；　creatures　who　had　no　voice；　but　with　whom　she　had　shared　understanding；　and　had　promised　to　protect。
　
　She　thought　about　the　whispering　tree　people；　whom　she　had　spoken　with　in　a　hauntingly　beautiful　experience；　fright…eningly　eerie；　but　somehow　gently　peaceful　at　the　same　time。
　
　The　whispering　tree　people　were　all　joined　as　one；　through　their　roots　touching　under　the　earth；　and　each　spoke　as　if　they　were　all　but　one；　as　if　there　were　no　individuals；　yet　each　had　a　name　to　whisper　to　you　if　you　made　it　promises　of　simple　favors；　a　mass　munity　that　was　at　the　same　time　all　only　one。　To　cut　down　a　tree　there　would　be　to　bring　the　pain　of　that　one’s　death　to　all；　they　could　not　escape　the　contact　they　felt　with　each　other。　If　people　went　into　that　land　and　cut　down　the　trees；　it　would　be　torture　to　all。　Kahlan　had　seen　them　in　pain　before。　Their　wails　could　make　the　stars　cry。
　
　There　were　other　creatures；　too；　that　were　magic；　and　people；　too；　who　possessed　it。　Sometimes　it　was　hard　to　place　a　line　between　creatures　of　the　wild　and　people。　Some　people　of　the　Midlands　were　part　creature；　or　perhaps　some　creatures　were　part　people。　They　were　strange　and　delightful；　and　very　shy。
　
　And　so　it　went　throughout　various　forms　of　magic；　from　the　simplest　things　in　the　Howling　Caves　that　could　let　you　peek　through　solid　rock　to　see　their　nests；　to　people　like　the　Mud　People；　who　had　only　simple　magic　that　would　do　but　one　thing。
　
　As　Mother　Confessor；　all　these；　and　many　more；　were　her　charges；　and　as　Mother　Confessor；　she　manded　all　to　protect　these　magic　places；　so　no　one　people　would　bear　the　brunt　of　burden　against　others。　It　was　an　arrangement　backed　by　Confessors　and　wizards　extending　back　for　thousands　of　years。
　
　The　twilight　beings；　Riggs　had　called　them。　That　was　the　name　given　to　these　magical　creatures　by　the　Blood　of　the　Fold；　among　others；　because　many　of　them　came　out　only　at　night。　For　this　reason；　the　Blood　associated　them　with　darkness；　and　so；　out　of　fear；　with　the　darkness　of　the　Keeper　of　the　Dead。
　
　The　Blood　considered　magic　the　force　through　which　the　Keeper　extended　his　influence　into　this　world；　into　the　world　of　the　living。　The　Blood　were　as　unreasonable　and　thickheaded　as　any　men　alive。　And　they　considered　it　their　duty　to　send　to　the　land　of　the　dead　any　who　they　thought　served　the　Keeper。　That　was　just　about　anyone　who　disagreed　with　their　view　of　things。　In　some　lands　the　Blood　were　outlawed；　and　in　some；　like　Nicobarese；　they　were　encouraged　and　paid　by　the　Crown。
　
　Maybe　Riggs　was　right。　Maybe　she　should　have　brought　the　rule　of　law　to　stop　men　like　this。　But　that　had　never　been　the　intent　of　the　council　…　to　make　all　to　bow　in　all　things　to　one。　The　strength　and　beauty　of　the　Midlands　was　in　its　diversity；　even　if　some　of　that　diversity　was　ugly。　What　was　ugly　to　one　was　beautiful　to　another；　and　so　it　was　that　each　land　was　to　be　left　to　rule　itself；　as　long　as　it　brought　no　force　of　arms　to　another。　It　was　a　tolerant　suffering　of　things　repugnant　to　allow　things　beautiful　to　blossom。　It　was　a　sometimes　difficult　and　fine　line　to　hold　the　council　to：　forcing　lands　to　work　together　in　some　things；　but　allowing　them　to　be　autonomous　in　others。
　
　But　perhaps　Riggs　was　right。　People　in　some　lands　suffered　the　cruel　or　poor　rule　of　their　greedy　or　inept　leaders；　with　no　hope　of　matters　being　brought　to　change　from　without。　Though　the　wise；　but　smaller；　lands　had　not　to　live　in　fear　of　outside　conquest。　If　the　suffering　of　the　people　under　less　fortunate　rule　could　be　ended　with　wise　central　rule；　would　not　matters　be　improved？
　
　Yet　when　all　lived　under　the　same　rule；　every　other　form　of　existence　was　extinguished；　never　to　have　the　chance　to　grow；　though　one　of　them　might　have　been　a　superior　way。　The　kind　of　single　rule　the　Imperial　Order　represented　was　slavery。
　
　Kahlan　was　surprised　to　encounter　Galean　sentries　farther　from　their　camp　than　before。　They　were　no　longer　spread　too　far　apart；　and　they　were　well　hidden；　popping　up　with　drawn　bows　and　bared　steel　when　she　was　almost　upon　them。　Chan…dalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　had　obviously　been　at　work。　The　sentries　put　fists　to　hearts　when　they　recognized　her。
　
　The　dawn　was　turning　the　sky　to　a　dark　steel　gray。　It　was　warmer　than　it　had　been；　with　the　clouds　covering　the　land　like　a　warming　quilt。　She　was　dead　tired　in　the　saddle　as　Nick　plodded　through　the　snow　toward　the　camp；　but　as　she　came　into　sight　of　men　rushing　about；　she　came　alert　with　the　thoughts　of　what　needed　to　be　done。
　
　Chandalen；　Prindin；　Captain　Ryan；　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　were　speaking　with　a　group　of　men　when　they　saw　her　riding　toward　the　camp。　The　four　came　at　a　run　to　meet　her　at　the　edge　of　the　activity。　Men　were　cooking；　eating；　stowing　gear；　preparing　weapons；　and　tending　to　wagons　and　horses。　She　spotted　Tossidin；　in　his　white　wolf　mantle；　off　some　distance　with　Lieutenant　Sloan；　waving　his　arms　in　explanation　as　he　talked　to　men　who　stood　mute；　with　their　spears　all　standing　upright　in　the　snow；　the　tight　mob　of　them　looking　like　a　dark　porcupine　against　the　white　ground。
　
　Kahlan　let　out　a　weary　moan　as　she　dismounted　before　the　four　men　who　had　e　to　greet　her。　Other　men　all　around　kept　to　their　tasks；　but　moved　more　slowly　as　they　watched　her　with　great　interest。　The　four　before　her　stared　openly　with　wide　eyes。　None　said　a　word。
　
　‘What　are　you　all　staring　at？’　she　said；　a　little　short…tempered。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；’　Captain　Ryan　said；　‘you’re　covered　in　blood。　Are　you　hurt？’
　
　Kahlan　stared　down　at　the　white　wolf　fur　of　her　mantle；　only　it　was　no　longer　white。　She　realized　for　the　first　time　that　the　skin　of　her　face　was　tight　with　dried　blood；　her　hair　stiff　with　it。
　
　‘Oh；’　she　said；　in　a　quieter　tone。　‘It’s　all　right。　I’m　fine。’
　
　Chandalen　and　Prindin　sighed　with　relief。
　
　Lieutenant　Hobson；　still　wide…eyed；　swallowed。　‘What　of　the　wizard？　Did　you　see　him？’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘What　you　see　on　me　is　what’s　left　of　him。’
　
　Chandalen　appraised　her　with　a　sly　smile。　‘And　how　many　others　did　you　kill？’
　
　Kahlan　gave　a　tired　shrug。　‘I　was　awfully　busy。　I　didn’t　take　the　time　to　count；　but　all　things　considered；　I　would　guess；　including　the　fires；　well　over　a　hundred。　The　wizard　is　dead；　that’s　what　matters。　Two　of　their　manders　are　dead　also；　and　at　least　two　more　are　wounded。’
　
　Captain　Ryan　and　Lieutenant　Hobson　paled。
　
　Chandalen’s　proud　grin　widened。　‘I　am　surprised　you　left　any　for　others　to　kill；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　She　didn’t　return　his　smile。　‘There　are　plenty　left。’　Kahlan　rubbed　her　horse’s　nose。　‘Nick　did　most　of　the　work。’
　
　‘I　told　you　he　wouldn’t　let　you　down；　Mother　Confessor；’　Hobson　said。
　
　That　he　did　not。　He　was　better　aid　than　the　good　spirits。　He　kept　me　alive　this　day。’
　
　Kahlan　lowered　herself　to　one　knee　in　the　snow　before　the　two　Galean　officers。　She　bowed　her　head。
　
　‘I　find　I　must　beseech　your　forgiveness。’　She　took　a　hand　of　each　in　hers。　Though　you　are　ignorant　of　how　to　acplish　what　must　be　done；　you　have　put　your　duty　to　the　Midlands　before　my　orders。　That　was　courage　of　the　highest　order。